Microbial Mind Control

Not long ago, scientists discovered that a specific microscopic parasite can hijack a rat’s brain and cause it to become attracted to one of its predators — the cat. It may not sound surprising that a parasite in the brain can exert a type of microbial mind control. But what about the microbes living in our gastrointestinal tracts? The GI tract maintains constant communication with the brain, so could the microbes it contains also influence the way the brain works? Hear from a scientist who has been studying this question for nearly a decade in this podcast from BrainFacts.org.

About the Author

Jessica P. Johnson

Jessica is a freelance science writer and podcast producer with degrees in biology, microbiology, and science journalism.